The T’ruma

Weekly Torah Lesson

Parasha: Teruma – Elevate / lift up
Torah: Shemot 25:1 – 27:19

This week’s parsha introduces a new type of offerings. The Hebrew word t’ruma literally means to “lift up” which sometimes is mistakenly translated “Heave Offering”. A closer look at this type of offering shows us that T’ruma is used to describe an “elevated offering”. An offering that has a raised status because of the offerees ability to bring as much as he or she wants to.

*** “And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought Avinu’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.” (Ex 35:21 )

*** Shemot 25:1 And Avinu spoke to Moshe, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring me an t’ruma: of every man that gives it willingly with his heart you shall take my t’ruma. 3 And this is the t’ruma which you shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, 4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, 5 And rams’ skins dyed red, and takashs’ skins, and shittim wood, 6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, 7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell within them. 9 According to all that I show you, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall you make it.

When the people free willingly participated in providing the materials for a “Holy Space” that would create a place to meet between Avinu and Moshe, they received something that they weren’t expecting.

*** “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell in them.” (Ex 25:8 )

The Hebrew word, b’tochem, is sometimes translated “among” or “in the midst” etc. This Hebrew word in its most simplistic rendering is translated “in”. But this “Holy Space” which was completely built by the “free will” offerings of the people was to be the cornerstone of a deeper Divine relationship than what the offerees were expecting.

*** “And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” (Ex 19:6 )

*** “And to make you high above all nations which he has made, in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that you may be a holy people to Avinu Elohekah, as he has spoken.” (De 26:19 )

*** “And what agreement has the temple of Avinu with idols? for you are the temple of the living Avinu; as Avinu has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their Avinu, and they shall be my people.” (2Co 6:16 )

*** “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, said the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a Avinu, and they shall be to me a people:” (Heb 8:10 )